Chapter_9_Development_STUDENT

What is Developmental Psychology?

The study of patterns of growth and change occurring throughout life, including physical, cognitive, moral, and social aspects.

What are the three major issues in Developmental Psychology?

1. Nature/Nurture 2. Continuity/Stages 3. Stability/Change

What period does Infancy refer to in the Lifespan Conception?

Infancy refers to the earliest stage of human development, typically from birth to around 2 years.

What are Teratogens?

Drugs, chemicals, or viruses that can enter the placenta and harm the developing fetus.

What is the significance of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) in Vygotsky’s Theory?

It refers to the range of tasks that a child can perform with assistance but not yet independently.

What are the four stages of Piaget's Cognitive Development?

1. Sensorimotor Stage (0-2 years) 2. Preoperational Stage (2-7 years) 3. Concrete Operational Stage (7-11 years) 4. Formal Operational Stage (12+ years)

What is the difference between assimilation and accommodation in Piaget's theory?

Assimilation is fitting new information into existing schemas, while accommodation is altering schemas to incorporate new information.

What are the characteristics of Secure Attachment?

Secure attachment is marked by crying or protesting at departure and greeting the mother happily upon return.

What are the typical characteristics of Preoperational Stage thinking in children?

Thinking is egocentric and focuses only on one feature of an object while ignoring other features.

What is Erikson’s first stage of psychosocial development?

Basic Trust vs. Mistrust, occurring from birth to 1.5 years, questioning if the infant can trust their caregiver.

What are the key aspects of Authoritarian Parenting?

Strict, controlling approaches with an emphasis on perfection that can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem in children.

What is the final stage in Erikson’s theory of Psychosocial Development?

Integrity vs. Despair, wherein older adults reflect on their lives and question whether they lived meaningfully.

What is Postconventional morality according to Kohlberg?

A stage of moral development where decisions are based on individual experiences and personal views.

List the effects of secure attachment in later life.

Larger vocabularies in toddlers, more competence and curiosity in preschoolers, better friendships in middle childhood, and more secure relationships in adulthood.

What is the nature vs nurture debate?

It evaluates how genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) influence human development.

What role do environmental factors play in prenatal development?

Environmental factors such as nutrition and stress can significantly impact the health and development of the fetus.

What characteristics define the Concrete Operational Stage?

Children can perform logical operations but are limited to concrete concepts and understanding of reversibility.

What is the role of synaptic pruning in brain development?

Elimination of synapses that occurs as a child develops, leading to more efficient brain function.

Describe the impact of severe malnutrition during pregnancy.

It increases the risk of birth complications and long-term neurological deficits.

What is meant by Cognitive Decline as people age?

It refers to the decrease in cognitive abilities such as memory and processing speed experienced in older age.

What is 'contact comfort' in the context of attachment?

A concept established by Harlow's experiments that highlights the importance of physical comfort in forming secure attachments.

Why is play important in childhood according to developmental psychology?

Play is essential for social, emotional, and cognitive development as it allows children to learn about their environment and how to interact with others.

What aspects of personality tend to change with age?

Social vitality and social dominance can fluctuate, while traits like agreeableness and emotional stability tend to stabilize or improve.